Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

STATE CAPIIOL, SACRAMENTO.
northjby Suffer and Placer, on the east by
Ell Dorado and Amador, on the south by
San Joaquin, and on the west by Solano
and Yolo. The broad, deep Sacramento
river flows along its western borders, giving
excellent navigation with tidewater and
points in the interior. The American and
Costumes rivers are the two other most
important streams of the county. These
rivers rise among the mountains of the adj
joining eastern counties, and flow south
ward-the American into the Sacramento
river at Sacramento city, and the Costumes
into the Mokelumne on the south. The
county includes, on the extreme east,
BELT OF FOOTHILLS
From six to eight miles wide-the town of
Folsom being upon its western limit-but
otherwise the surface has only gentle I'M
dulations and is watered by streams flow
ing into the marshes of the tule lands,
through which their waters reach the
Sacramento river. The main Sacramento
in the southern portion of the county runs
aero the broad tule bottoms in many and
crooked channels, cutting them up into
numerous small and several large islands.
Some of these islands have been reclaimed
by the building of levees. The soil is rich,
some varieties of produce two and three
crops a year. Along the border of the
Sacramento there is belt of alluvial land,
varying from one to three miles in width,
originally timbered with cottonwood and
sycamore, which is now entirely IN bearing
orchards. These orchards are said to be
the finest and most profitable in tho world.
1t is said that the average Californian is
given to much to praise of his own section.
SACRAMENTO RIVER ORCHARDS.
The following, from the pen of gentle
man from Indiana who visited those or
chards in March last, certainly cannot be
objected to on that score. He says: One
OF the prettiest sights imaginable is to be
enjoyed in driving from the Capital City to
Walnut Grove, upon the Sacramento side
of the river. The road, for miles, is on top
of the levee, broad and smooth. On your
right is the Sacramento river, on your left
one continuous orchard for distance of
over thirty miles. The trees are all in full
bloom, delight the eye with their beauty
and the sense of smell with their fragrance.
The cherry orchards, at a distance, with
their pure white blossoms, resemble an
immense snow bank, with here and there
field of pink where the peach Or
chards intervene. Pear orchards of
immense size, also in full bloom,
are intermingled with those of apricot
and plum. Magnificent family residences,
large in size, of the latest and most i'm
proved architectural designs, newly paint
ed; well-kept grounds, handsome flower
gardens, indicate the wealth, thrift and
character of the people of that section. For
many miles the leyee is grown heavily
with alfalfa, and its bright green, sloping
banks form strangely beautiful contrast
with the murky, turgid and slickens-laden
| water of the Sacramento that rolls slowly
| at its base. An occasional passing steamer,
or the whitehall or sailboat of the Italian
fisherman. busily engaged in taking sal
mon, are the only things that enliven this
beautiful scene. except the lowing herds of
Devons and Durhams that Craze in the
tules beyond the orchards, or the busy or
chardists who are preparing to handle the
| immense crop of fruit that will be gathered
| this season. 1t is safe to say that the or
chards of Sacramento county that skirt the
banks of the Sacramento river for upwards